Polyphonic HMI Awarded Crucial US Patent for Its Music Recommendation Technology

Music Intelligence Solutions:

-- Announces Expansion as Music Intelligence Solutions

-- Opens San Francisco Headquarters

-- Appoints Andrew Lockwood as New Chief Executive Officer

-- To Launch New B2B Products in the Fall

Polyphonic HMI today announced that U.S. Patent 7,081,579 B2
(Method and System for Music Recommendation) was awarded to the
Company on July 25th, 2006.
The patented software uses a series of complex artificial
intelligence algorithms to analyze up to 70 different sonic
characteristics in a musical composition, and is then able to sort any
collection of digital music based on any combination of similar
characteristics.
The characteristics analyzed are those which produce the strongest
reaction in terms of human perception, such as melody, tempo, rhythm
and range, and how these change over time. This approach enables the
creation of "constellations" of music with similar characteristics,
even from different genres and styles, enabling fast yet highly
individualized music discovery, based on a "music taste test." This is
a key driver for further growth in online music sales.
The award of this patent reinforces the many accolades of the
technology that began in 2003 with the New York Times.(a)
The software technologies covered by this patent are infinitely
scaleable and completely automated to enable music retailers, online
stores, mobile carriers, broadcasters and music providers of any kind
to create uniquely innovative music recommendation and discovery
experiences for each consumer. In many respects they are superior next
generation technologies, compared to the more traditional
"collaborative filtering" approaches in use today. The technologies
also enable extremely accurate predictions of the commercial relevance
and corresponding market success of potential new releases for
artists, record labels, publishers and producers. In this area, the
patent covers the technology method and system underlying the
Polyphonic HMI product marketed as Hit Song Science (HSS) which
compares new digital music files with historical commercially
successful songs, to provide an early indication of market potential.
In addition the technologies are able to deliver catalogue
optimization and instant playlisting tools not previously available to
the music industry.
"The award of this patent confirms that in a crowded market space
the technology of Music Intelligence Solutions is truly unique, in
that it can scale infinitely without human efforts, and can be used
for a myriad of essential music-data related applications," said Gerd
Leonhard, independent music and media futurist, author, and advisory
board member of the company.
Also announced today was the launch of Music Intelligence
Solutions (www.musintelligence.com) a new Group comprising Polyphonic
HMI (Spain) and Music Intelligence Solutions (U.S.), with a mission to
become the leading global provider of artificial intelligence software
for music recommendation and discovery, market potential prediction,
and automated music programming. The Company's new suite of software
applications based on the patent will be launched in the fall. Music
Intelligence Solutions is headquartered in San Francisco, USA.
Andrew Lockwood was appointed as worldwide Chief Executive Officer
of Music Intelligence Solutions in July 2006. He was most recently
Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer at Covad Communications. In this
role he led the transformation of the Company from a largely wholesale
provider of DSL services to a direct seller of business class VoIP
services. Andy continues to serve as a member of Covad's Advisory
Board. Previously, Andy was Senior Vice President and General Manager
at Inktomi, and held a variety of P&L responsible roles with BT
(British Telecommunications) in the US, UK, Holland and Asia.
"I am very excited to be joining Music Intelligence Solutions at
this breakthrough time in its development," said Andy. "We have great
assets and a huge growth opportunity, which I am looking forward to
delivering on."
"We are delighted to have been awarded this patent as the basis
for our expansion," adds Jimena Llopis, Executive Chairman of Music
Intelligence Solutions. "We are passionate about being at the
forefront of enriching music experience in this fast changing
industry, and are extremely pleased to welcome Andrew Lockwood as
Chief Executive Officer."

About Polyphonic HMI

Polyphonic Human Media Interface was founded in 2002 (in
Barcelona, Spain) to commercialize and further develop the technology
covered by the then pending patent. Having demonstrated the market
potential of its product lines, Polyphonic HMI is now expanding
through Music Intelligence Solutions.

About Music Intelligence Solutions

Music Intelligence Solutions is a new group comprising Polyphonic
HMI (Spain) and Music Intelligence Solutions (U.S.), with a mission to
become the leading global provider of artificial intelligence software
for music recommendation and discovery, market potential prediction,
and automated music programming. Music Intelligence Solutions is
headquartered in San Francisco, USA. For more information, visit
www.musintelligence.com.

(1) New York Times Magazine 3rd Annual Year in Ideas (December 14
2003, Section 6, P74)